April 24, 2010

Compare and Contrast

There are several ways to think about how things are related: (1) sequence/order (which comes first and what follows), (2) cause and effect, (3) how the parts relate to the whole, and (4) compare and contrast. A Venn diagram (relational circles) allows you to organize according to what is similar and what is different. This is helpful when you are comparing different events, perspectives, and concepts. Usually exercises such as this take effort, but students who negotiate through them appreciate being challenged to think. Try it yourself with the three stories of Paul's conversion (Acts 9; 22; 26) before you try it out on the students and see what you discover.